Traumatised homeowners should have access to mental health support to cope with stress in the aftermath of flooding, according to a new report.
Some flooded out residents say they suffer trauma and anxiety and are left to cope after immediate help ends, MPs on the environment, food and rural affairs select committee heard.
Clearer aims for flood resilience are needed to help protect more than 5.2 million homes and businesses in England which are currently at risk, the report states.
A long-term budget is also needed to maintain existing and future flood defences to cope with the extra stress climate change is putting on them.
Neil Parish, the Efra committee chairman, called for more work with local authorities to properly resource mental health services, saying: “Affected communities told us about the support vacuum they felt in the aftermath of flooding. The waters receding do not repair the psychological, economic and physical impacts of flood damage.
“It is high time that the…
— to www.telegraph.co.uk
